Kundapur: Chinchansur visits Gangolli, Trasi, promises to end fishermen's problems

Silvester D’Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Jun 24: State minister for ports, Baburao Chinchansur, visited Gangolli port, and the sea erosion spot at Trasi in the taluk on Sunday June 23. He also lent an ear to the problems being faced by the local fishermen during this visit. The minister arrived at Gangolli without any police escort.

During his visit to the under-renovation Gangolli port, which has been plagued by brake water problem and accumulation of silt at the jetty, the fishermen brought these problems to his notice, and also drew his attention to the fact that a few fishermen lose their lives because of boat accidents on account of not addressing these issues. They pleaded with the minister to take interest in the issues and take remedial measures.

Speaking on the occasion, Chinchansur revealed that he also hails from fishermen community and that he is well aware of the problems faced by the fishing sector. “I do not believe in making promises and then forgetting about them. The file relating brake water issue has been sent by the officials to the union government. I will get copies of the necessary papers and discuss the issue threadbare with the officials of the department. Within a week, I will hold consultations with union ministers, Veerappa Moily and Oscar Fernandes, as well as MP, K Jayaprakash Hegde, about these problems. Every effort would be made to find a lasting solution to the problems with the help of central government grant. Chief minister, Siddaramaiah, is totally dedicated to the development of the state, and he has been extending full support relating to issues bothering the people,” he said.

Chinchansur affirmed that he wants to shed the age-old practice of certain ministers, of visiting places, making promises, and doing nothing about them later. He said he believes in showing his commitment through his work, and told the fishermen that they will be devoid of the above problems in the next year.

The minister also visited the park built by the department of tourism at Trasi, part of which has been damaged due to sea erosion because of unscientific execution. When an official of his department told the minister that his department was not involved with the work, Chinchansur got impatient. He told the official, Rathod, that the department should have the commitment to ensure that the works conducted within its jurisdiction, irrespective of who has executed them, are done in a proper way. Advising the official not to allow such things to happen in the future, he said that the people concerned should be committed to social development.

Speaking to journalists thereafter, the minister said he will hold discussions with the chief minister about the damage, and see that the park is restored out of grants released by the chief minister.